From 8 to 16 March 2024, the Baxter Theatre’s popular Zabalaza Theatre Festival returns for the 14th time with fresh, innovative developmental theatre. Expect dance, drama, music and poetry to entertain you and your family.
The festival will showcase 33 productions and 125 participants, from communities all over the Western Cape, including two DCAS (Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport) production winners from Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay, as well as children’s theatre productions by Magnet Theatre, UNIMA & Indawo Yobomi and the Jungle Theatre Company.
Yvonne Msebenzi, Luvo Tamba, Luxolo Mboso, Sivenathi Macibela in Stone Play. Image credit: Phakamani Waka
For more than a decade, the Baxter Zabalaza Festival has developed young theatre-makers and artists, many of that has gone on to receive recognition and accolades in the local, and international theatre landscape.
Introduce the kids to theatre at Zabalaza
The Zabalaza Family Day is a much-loved kickoff to the award-winning festival. On Saturday 9 March 2024, expect horse riding, a jumping castle and a children’s theatre programme that will run from 9.45am to 12pm.
Later in the day, there will be live performances by Qhama Musiq X Msaka Mona in the Baxter Garden. The main festival programme includes themes of tradition, culture and identity.
Nasiphi Gxikixa in Isifungo. Image credit: Xolani Tulumani
The main theatre festival takes place from Monday 11 to Friday 15 March, with daily performances at 10am, 11am, 12pm, and 7pm.
These selected productions were chosen after months of rigorous mentorship and development culminating in mini-festivals that took place at Makukhanye Art Room in Khayelitsha, Black Box Theatre, Delft Rent Office, Gugu’s Thebe in Langa, and The Baxter respectively.
This year’s mentors include Thando Doni, Siphenathi Mayekiso, Aphiwe Menziwa and The Baxter’s Fires Burning company, all of whom worked on the mini-festivals, which took place in October 2023 at Makhukhaye Art Room Khayelitsha, Rainbow Arts Organisation in Delft, Guga’sthebe in Langa and the script reading addition which took place at the Baxter Theatre Centre.
On 16 March, the festival will culminate in an awards ceremony where the Best of Zabalaza 2024 winner/s will be announced.
The Zabalaza Theatre Festival is curated by award-winning director, Mdu Kweyama, along with Zabalaza team members, including Imameleng Masitha (festival administrator), Bulelani Mabutyana (coordinator), Nontsikelelo Maboza (audience development).
Anelisa Wana, Nico Masepe in Imviko. Image credit: Xolani Tulumani
The Zabalaza Theatre Festival is supported by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the City of Cape Town, the HCI Foundation and Pick n Pay. The script of the winning production of the Best of Zabalaza season is published annually by Junkets Publisher.
Last year’s four Best of Zabalaza-winning productions went on tour around the Western Cape, through a collaboration with STAND Foundation.
Schools and organisations with group bookings have the option of affordable transportation offered by Golden Arrow Bus services, which support the festival yearly, at R10 per person, for groups of more than 40, with a strict maximum of 60 people per bus.
Tickets to the main festival are R30 each and R50 for two shows for schools and organisations only. Get your tickets at Webtickets on 086 111 0005, or at Pick n Pay stores.
For school or group bookings, fundraisers or charities contact Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email her at [email protected] or Nontsikelelo Maboza on 021 680 3984 or email her at [email protected].
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Feature image: Supplied
